Bunker Mentality

14-year-old to tee up in US Open

Before the start of this week, it seemed like there were already a hundred different US Open storylines.

Tiger Woods' momentum coming off a win at the Memorial; Lee Westwood and Dustin Johnson picking up W's just last week; Rory McIlroy crashing and burning in Memphis; Casey Martin returning to Olympic at the age of 40; journeyman Dennis Miller getting into the field.

These were just a few of the things to keep an eye on at Olympic Club. But in typical US Open fashion we now have one more, and it's a doozy: A 14-year-old boy is now in the field at the Open.

Yes, you read that right. Andy Zhang, not even old enough to drive and one year removed from being legal to watch PG-13 movies, will become the youngest golfer in US Open history to tee it up in the major, after Paul Casey withdrew with an undisclosed injury on Monday.

We talk all the time about what we were doing at such and such age to put these crazy stories into perspective, but seriously, think about what you were doing at 14. Most likely you were chasing girls, playing video games and easily squeezing in 36 holes on a daily basis with your buddies.

The US Open? You watched it on TV. Andy Zhang, on the other hand, will get to live out every kid's dream this week. The native of Shangdong, China, who won't graduate until 2016, was actually the fifth alternate out of sectionals, where he almost booked his ticket at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida, before falling to Florida State senior Brooks Koepka in a playoff.

Even better for Zhang? He'll be teeing it up with Masters champion Bubba Watson and Aaron Baddeley in a Tuesday practice round. Now that's how you kick off your first US Open experience.